A HISTORIC DAY FOR SAFETY & JUSTICE IN KHAYELITSHA AND BEYOND!

24 August 2014 |

0

KHAYELITSHA COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO POLICING TO RELEASE REPORT

Background

In August 2012 a Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate allegations of ineffective policing and a breakdown in the relationship between the SAPS and the people of Khayelitsha. On 25 August 2014 – almost two year after it was set up and after lengthy delays due to legal battles – the O’Regan/Pikoli Commission of Inquiry report will be officially made public at a ceremony at Lookout Hill in Khayelitsha.

Between January and May 2014 the Commission held public hearings and heard evidence from more than 100 people including residents of Khayelitsha, police, government officials and experts. The Commission also received more than 50,000 page of evidence and for the past few months has been working its way through this information and writing its report.

The Report

For an area that consistently records some of the highest levels of serious crime in the country including murder and sexual assault, has experienced dozens of vigilante killing in recent years and has an overburdened and under-resourced police and criminal justice system, in conjunction with the evidence before it, we are confident that the Commissionwill find that there has been ineffective policing and a breakdown in relations.

We do not believe that things will improve overnight – many of the problems facing Khayelitsha’s police are systemic and require serious, long term intervention. However, by identifying the key problems and proposing solutions to begin addressing them, the Commission has provided a crucial starting point. We are excited to see what recommendations the Commission has developed to address safety and policing in Khayelitsha. While the focus was on a specific area we are confident that the report will have a national impact.

While much of the evidence spoke to problems created by the police, we cannot ignore the extremely difficult conditions under which police work and the lack of support they receive. If we want to improve safety and justice, the police need to be given the tools to safely and efficiently conduct their work.

Events

To celebrate this momentous day we, along with partners Treatment Action Campaign, Equal Education, Ndifuna Ukwazi and others, will be marching to Lookout Hill before the official release to raise awareness and to show our continued commitment to this process. This is truly a significant day; never before has a community and civil society used the Constitution to hold police to account in this manner.

THE MARCH:

Date: 25 August 2014

Venue: Corner of Spine Road and Lansdowne Road

Time: March will assemble at 11h00 and begin towards Lookout Hill at 11h30

Top Categories:

Latest Tweets:

Facebook:

The Social Justice Coalition works to advance the constitutional rights to life, dignity, equality, freedom and safety for all people, but especially those living in informal settlements across South Africa.